BY IRA KAUFMAN

After Buc practices, you can find Evan Smith chasing his daughter all over the football field, laughing all the way. That’s the calm after the storm.

Between whistles, Smith is all business.

That’s the way it has to be for an offensive lineman who has battled the odds since 2009, when Smith went undrafted coming out of Idaho State. He played for the Packers before the Bucs signed him as a free agent in 2014 and Smith is still standing, earning a start at right guard in last week’s preseason opener in Miami.

“Starting, backup, whatever it is, I just know that whenever they call on me, I’ve got to play at a high level,” says Smith, who just turned 32. “I love this organization. They’ve treated me very well here in Tampa and I’m glad they value guys who can do multiple things.”

In theory, Smith is supposed to provide veteran depth at both guard spots and center. In reality, Smith has a real chance to start at right guard Week 1 in New Orleans because Caleb Benenoch has been slowed by injuries and Alex Cappa is a Division II rookie.

“Evan’s good enough to start in this league,” says Demar Dotson, the longest-tenured Buc, “but obviously you want to groom guys for the future. He can get in and play just as well as the starter. There’s not too many guys like that in this league — no dropoff.”

Hard Hats & Rough Roads

Smith admits he was a bit of a party animal in Green Bay, but becoming a father has helped to settle him down. He also realized how much he loved a game that was slipping away from him.

Dirk Koetter has learned he can depend on Smith to get the job done at multiple positions. He also appreciates Smith’s work ethic and willingness to pass on trench wisdom to young teammates.

“I come to work every day with my hard hat on,” Smith says. “I’m trying to get better, trying to show these young guys how it’s done because I’ve got a lot of experience.

“I hope they pick up some things from me along the way. We’ve got a lot of young guys coming up and it’s important they learn how to play the game the right way.”

Evan Smith will likely end his pro career without a Pro Bowl invitation. He’s not going to make the NFL Network’s list of the top 100 players and he’ll have to pay an entrance fee to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but Smith has made himself the kind of versatile player every coach covets.

He works hard, doesn’t complain and gives you what he has.

“Ever since I entered this league, I’ve been a self-starter,” he says. “And since I came to Tampa, we’ve never been picked to be on top. Those are the guys you never see coming. But I like the way our practices are going. I see a lot more energy and we have a lot of talent on this roster.”

Ring Bearer

Smith began his second stint with the Packers late in the 2010 season and Green Bay went on to defeat Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. The Pack won division titles in each of the next three seasons before Smith moved on to Tampa Bay.

“I like the attitude on this team,” he says. “Now, it’s let your play do the talking. We really did a good job in free agency this year. When you can go out and say the best defense you’ll face is your own defense in practice, that’s a good feeling.”

Whether he’s starting or backing up, Smith is in prime position to earn a roster spot for the fifth consecutive year in Tampa. Through sheer dedication, he’s earned respect from his coaches and appreciation from his peers.

“Evan’s a guy who can play different positions and they know they can count on him around here,” says Dotson. “He’ll play well, and coaches know that. I’ve got all the confidence in the world in the guy.”

Now in his 40th year covering the NFL, Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer in the Tampa Bay area. He scored a full-time seat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters in July of 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also hear Ira on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio Wednesdays at 5 p.m. during football season. Also a TV star, see Ira now on Mondays at 10:30 p.m. on Spectrum Sports 360 (aka BayNews 9). Ira also is part of the FOX-13 Tailgate Sunday NFL show and enjoys beet salads, Riesling, tennis, Chiefs victories and needling Joe.